Prices were varied, but in general the market was steady. A couple of big Simmentals, 670-750kg, sold for $2.32-$2.46/kg, to stand out from the rest. Friesians, 485-586kg, were largely $1.80-$1.90/kg. Hereford-Friesian, 509-520kg, earned $1.78-$1.91/kg, Angus, 395-440kg, $1.77-$1.79/kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford lines, 507kg, made $1.97/kg.
Friesian heifers, 410-412kg, fetched $2.21-$2.34/kg, Angus, 450-670kg, $2.65-$2.67/kg.
Service bulls were in good demand and made up most of the bull offering. Angus and Hereford bulls, 650-700kg, returned $2.90/kg. Hereford, 740kg, made $2.75/kg, Angus, 810-890kg, $2.32-$2.50/kg.
Numbers wound down to about 30 in the calf pens. The market was easier but still solid. Good Friesian bulls realised $220-$270, good Hereford-Friesian $270-$310. Good Hereford-Friesian heifers earned $180-$220, medium $150.
The prime lamb market was strong and prices lifted by about $5/head. Good competition meant most lambs sold for more than $100. A couple of small lines of heavy males topped the sale at $127-$130.
Prime ewes began strongly and the strength continued. All grades improved although there were no very heavy ewes. Those with a good coat of wool attracted extra attention. Good ewes sold for $79-$87, medium $62-$81, light $40-$58.50.
At Thursday’s cow fair, the top-end of the Angus and Angus-Hereford lines, 548-650kg, earned $2.32-2.38/kg. Other traditional lines, 450-560kg, weren’t sought-after to the same extent, making $2.01-2.15/kg, $930-1130. A couple of lines, 650kg-plus, earned $1450, $2.16-2.18/kg. South Devons, 497-584kg, fetched $1.96-2.09/kg, with interest in the lighter lines solid. One 459kg line topped the per-kilo rate for cows at $2.84/kg, $1305.
The market for R3 heifers was narrow on a per-kilo basis. Most, 417-523kg traded at $2.95-3.10/kg. One 575kg line topped the sale at $1650, $2.87/kg. The middle ground for R2 heifers, 452-494kg, was $2.90-2.94/kg, though a couple of lines returned 30c/kg more.
